Sources of More Information about Siberian Huskies

The Education Committee and Librarian of the Siberian Husky Club of America, Inc., have provided the following short list as sources of information of interest to the Siberian Husky fancier. In many cases, these sources can be obtained by mail order from various dog-related businesses, such as:
Cherrybrook: (800) 524-0820
4-M Enterprises: (800) 487-9867
J-B Wholesale: (800) 526-0388
R.C. Steele: (800) 872-3773

SHCA Publications

Some of the on-line information is available in printed form from the SHCA, Inc.
To order, send a check in US funds made payable to SHCA, Inc., to:
Barbara Horsey
SHCA Corresponding Secretary
10194 Old Kent Lane
Clarkston, MI 48348

The SHCA Information Booklet ($0.50)
A Partnership for Life: Learning to Understand your Siberian Husky ($0.75 each)
Your Siberian Husky: Its Hips and Its Eyes ($0.50 each)

The Siberian Husky Club of America, Inc. Newsletter: The official publication of the SHCA, Inc., published four times a year. Subscribe by sending a check in US funds made payable to SHCA, Inc., in the amount of $35.00 (for US yearly subscription) or $75.00 (in US funds for foreign yearly subscription) to:
Sandy Jessop
SHCA Newsletter Circulation Manager
7850 Friendship Road
Lenoir City, TN 87772
865/988-4985
E-mail: prezshca@hotmail.com

Sources of Information on the Siberian Husky

From an extensive list of books, periodicals, videos, etc., compiled by the SHCA Education Committee, the following list of titles was selected as foundation reading for Siberian Husky fanciers. (Please note that some of these books are out of print. However, all that are listed are currently available from used book sources.)

General Information/Essential Basic Knowledge

The Complete Dog Book, American Kennel Club, Inc.(Howell House)
The American Kennel Club Gazette, American Kennel Club (magazine)
Canine Terminology, Harold R. Spira
Canine Structure and Terminology, Edward Gilbert and Thelma R. Brown
The New Dogsteps, Rachel Page Elliot (book, Howell House)
The New Dogsteps, Rachel Page Elliot (video)
Dog Locomotion and Gait Analysis, Curtis Brown (Hoflin)
Visualization of the Standards, Alice M. Wagner, ed.
AKC's World of Pure Bred Dogs, AKC & Duncan Barnes (Howell House) -- not inclusive of all breeds, but an interesting historical perspective on the development of dog sports in America

Comprehensive Studies of the Siberian Husky

The Complete Siberian Husky, Lorna Demidoff and Michael Jennings (Howell House)
The New Complete Siberian Husky, Michael Jennings (Howell House)
The Siberian Husky, Live the Adventure, Margaret A. Koehler
The Siberian Husky (Dog Life Series), Donna Beckman (THF)
The International Siberian Husky Club presents the Siberian Husky, 2nd Edition and 3rd Edition, ISHC -- the 3rd Edition is all new, not a restating of the 2nd Edition
The Siberian Husky, Able Athlete, Able Friend, Michael Jennings
Top Producers, Siberian Huskies, Debbie Meador (Denlinger)
This is the Siberian Husky, Joan M. Brearley (THF Publications) -- generic text with inaccuracies, however, the photographs are a priceless chronicle of the breed
The Siberian Husky, Standard and Commentary, (PowerPoint Presentation) Jean Fournier
The Siberian Husky Club of America, Inc., Newsletter, SHCA -- breed specific history, educational topics, updates on activies and ongoing concerns
SHCA Archives, contact current SHCA Historian
Note for those researching pedigrees: many pedigrees of working Siberians include dogs of Canadian origin. The Siberian Husky Club of Canada has extensive archives. Contact: Siberianhuskyclubofcanada.com

Breed Origin/History of the Siberian Husky

Alaskan Trails, Siberian Dogs, John D. Tanner (Hoflin, 1998) -- excellent, entertaining, and detailed account of the Siberian Husky prior to AKC recognition. Appendix includes early race records, with distances and times.
Seppala: Alaskan Dog Driver, Elizabeth M. Ricker (Hoflin) -- written in 1930 by Seppala's collaborator and recently reprinted, the book is mostly a whitewashed taile of Seppala's life as an immigrant in Alaska. However, it does contain his "as told to" account of various early races including the All-Alaska Sweepstakes.
With Byrd at the Bottom of the World, Norman D. Vaughn -- not all of the sled dogs on this expedition teams in the years before AKC approval.

Especially for New Owners

How to Raise and Train a Siberian Husky, Lorna Demidoff
A New Owner's Guide to Siberian Huskies, Kathleen Kanzler (THF Publications)
The Siberian Husky Primer, Siberian Husky Club of Southern California
Mother Knows Best, the Natural Way to Train your Dog, Carol Lea Benjamin (Howell House)
Your Siberian Husky: Its Hips and Its Eyes, SHCA -- pamphlet produced by SHCA; also on website

Dog Showing

Handling Your Own Dog for Show, Obedience, and Field Trials, Martha Covington Thorne -- though written before the Internet and Agility became part of the show world, this book still conatins a wealth of sound advice for the owner-handler.
The New Secrets of Successful Show Dog Handling, Peter Greene
The Forsythe Guide to Dog Showing, Robert & Jane Forsyth (Howell House)
The Joy of Breeding your own Show Dog, Anne Serrane (Howell House)

Understanding the Siberian Husky Personality/The Siberian Husky as a Working Dog

Born to Pull,Bob Cary and Gail de Marcken -- this beautifully illustrated gem is a delightful introduction to the sledding breeds. Colorful and uncomplicated, it can even be enjoyed with the youngest members of a household. A quick, informative, and joyful read!
Running North, A Yukon Adventure, Ann Cook -- a true story of selecting and training an all-Siberian Husky team for the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest Race

Books about Sled Dogs

Mush: A Beginner's Manual of Sled Dog Training, Bella Levorsen, ed., for the Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers, Inc. (first edition), Charlene Labelle, ed., (revised 2nd edition, 2007)
Training and Racing Sled Dogs, George Attla -- primarily an interview with Alaskan native and all-time great George Attla, the informaiton in this book stands the test of time. It is out of print, but woth every penny from a used book dealer.
Spirit of the Wind, a movie made by Universal Studios in 1979 that is based on the life of George Attla is also worth the search for those interested in norhtern/native accounts.
The World of Sled Dogs, Lorna Coppinger and ISDRA (Howell House) -- chronicles North American Sled Dog Racing through the 1970s. Identifies sled dog "dynasties," many of which exist today.
The Speed Mushing Manual, Jim Welsh
Dogs, A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and Evolution, Raymond and Lorna Coppinger -- the section on sled dogs is not easy on Siberian Huskies, but can be used to assist fanciers in understanding why "medium" and "moderate" are stressed in the Siberian Husky Standard. Also discusses physical and social dynamics of teams.
Mushing, the Magazine of Dog-Powered Adventure, subs@mushing.com -- current topics in the mushing world.
The Cruelest Miles, The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic, Gay Salisbury and Laney Salisbury -- exciting and thorough account of the Great Serum Run, the event that the Iditarod Trail Race commemorates.
The Last Great Race, Tim Jones -- Iditarod story
Winterdance, Gary Paulsen -- an hilarious, moving, not-to-be-missed account of how a rookie sled dog driver and his team of misfit sled dogs find their way to the Iditarod. This book continues to have wide appeal, far beyond the dog fancy, and was even condensed for Readers' Digest.

Videos

The Siberian Husky, by AKC (Video #VVT626, $37.95 to AKC, Attn.: Video Fulfillment, 5580 Centerview Drive #200, Raleigh, NC 27606, or 919/233-9780)
1990-1994, & 1997 SHCA National Specialty Videos, (K9TV, 303/972-6433)
1996 SHCA National Specialty Video, (Domino Video, 800/522-TAPE)

Sledding Equipment

Tun-Dra, (616) 837-9726
RAMCO, (907) 452-6133
Nordkyn Outfitters, (206) 847-4128
Resha Sled Dog Equipment, (814) 362-3048

Last update of this page: 04/10/2013.